Work handling apparatus for sewing machines and the like



United States Patent [1113,544,102

[ 72] Inventor Francis H. Hughes [50] Field of Search"... 1 12/65, 5

Troy, New York 262, 121.12, 121.15; 271/45, 75, 68; 198/165. 21 A 1. No. 754 232 izzi Fi ie d Aug 21, 1968 [561 References clted [45 1 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 UNITED STATES PATENTS Assignee Clue", Peabody Co., Inc. 3,392,637 7/1968 Back 271/45x Troy New York Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Attorneyl.eo Fornero and Robert .1. Dockery [54] WORK HANDLING APPARATUS FOR SEWING ABSTRACT: Apparatus for sewing buttons on shirt fronts in- 8 8 g eluding a dual belt feed arrangement and means for indexing [52] US. Cl 271/68, so that the buttons will be sewed in the proper place on the I 1 12/121.15 shirt fronts. The machine'includes a means for transferring the [51] Int. Cl B6511 /6 shirt fronts directly from the sewing station to a stacking station after the last button is sewed.

Sheet 1 0! 5 INVENTOR FRANCIS H. HUGHES Patented Dec. 1, 1970 FRANCIS H. HUGHES S hee1i 3 o1 5 IOa 2 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet HI H INVENTOR FRANCIS H. HUGHES Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Y 3,544,102

Sheet 4 or 5 Q a N INVENTOR FRANCIS H. HUGHES 54 Q OQ Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Shet 5 of s INVENTOR FRANClS H. HUGHES WORK HANDLING APPARATUSFOR SEWING MACHINES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates generally to machines intended for use in sewing textile products and particularly a machine for sewing the buttons on a shirt front. A variety of machines have been used in the past to sew buttons or to make buttonholes. One of these is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,719. This patent basically deals with an automatic positioning means to control movement of the garment to successive buttonhole positions and to terminate the'operation after the last buttonhole has been completed. US Pat. No. 3,267,892 describes a multiple automatic sewing machine which incorporates plural sewing heads. US. Pat. No. 3,335,682 shows still another machine which is intended to replace various manual processes in sewing such things as buttons and buttonholes. A feature of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,682 is the use of a conveyor belt-feeding mechanism to transport the work to the apparatus. US. Pat. No. 3,068,816 describes a machine for sewing a plurality of buttons or buttonholes in a fabric. The apparatus of this invention incorporates a conveyor and means for intermittently indexing the workpiece so that sewing can be effected at intermediate points. A problem encountered in any type of machine where it is necessary to accurately place a stitch or a button is difficulty of coordinating the conveying and indexing means such that the stitch will be made in the proper place for each piece of material that is passed through the machine. Another problem is the accurate and rapid positioning of the piece in the machine by an operator. Such automatic machines sew very rapidly and unless the operator can feed them quickly, the advantage of the rapid sewing is lost. It is desirable also to be able to stack the finished pieces with a minimum of effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a variety of beneficial features. One feature of the present invention is that the operator can load directly into the machine, therefore, requiring minimum floor space. Another feature of the invention is that the piece, once it has been loaded, is automatically transferred from one position to another under the influence of top and bottom belts which allow accurate positioning of the workpiece after each movement. The invention includes an indexing feature which is not afiected by different materials being transferred and does not need adjustment to handle, for example, a very heavy fabric after a very light fabric has been handled. The loading and unloading, the latter of which is accomplished by a stacking arrangement which allows unloading immediately from the sewing station, may be carried out within easy reach of the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for handling fabric pieces and particularly garment parts where it is necessary to sew at a variety of defined points on the fabric. V

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention, the invention comprises features hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims, the description setting forth in detail, certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are set out to show some of the many ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the indexing arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. I; I

FIG. 3 is a view showing the gauging means which assists the operator in loading the machine and the stacking means which is an integral part of the cloth transfer plate;

FIG. 4 is a view of the stacker arrangement;

FIG. 4a is a detail from FIG. 4;

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IEPREF ERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1' shows a metal framell) which supports the various components of the apparatus. An endless belt 11 is arranged about the frame and carried by a variety of rollers includingr' idler rollers 12, l3, l4 and 16, tensioning roller19 and further tensioning; rollersassociated with the sewing station and designated generally as 20. Roller 21 is a driving roller. Tensioning roller 19 is attached to an air cylinder 22. There is constant air pressure on. cylinder 22 to maintain an upward force onroller 19. The raising and lowering of the belt 11 by rollers 20 is coincidental with the raising and lowering of roller 19.

The travel of roller 19 is limited to an amount equal to the slack induced in belt 11 as a direct result of the raising and lowering of the belt by rollers 20. Idler .18 is positioned directly beneath roller 19 so that there is a minimal sideward thrust force on the shaft 23 of air cylinder 22. A second air cylinder 24 operates roller 20' which is carried by arm 25 and which pivots about point 26. The air cylinder 24 is swingably mounted at 27 so that it can accommodate the motion of arm 25. Idlers 20 are each mounted on arms similar to the arrangement for idler 20'. Each of these is connected to a piston (one is shown and designated generally as 28) which allows each of the idlers to be displaced upward under the action of the piston. It can beseen from the foregoing that belt 11, which is under tension, can be moved by the action of the movable idlers 20' and 20.

Belt 30 is shown in the FIG. carried by drive roll 31 and a series of eight idler rollers designated as 32. All of these idler rollers are fixed and none move as do those carrying belt 11. For a distance, both belts ride adjacent each other. In typical operation, the working piece is advanced between the belts in this distance.

The frame 10 is cut away to accommodate the throat plate of the sewing machines which are shown in phantom lines as 36 and 37. The numeral 39 designates angle braces (one is shown). A sheet metal enclosure (not shown in this FIG.) which fonns the transfer plate is attached to these braces. This aspect of the machine will be discussed later in the specification.

FIG. 2 is a detail of the indexing means. A chain and sprocket arrangement is located within a housing designated as 40 which is an integral part of frame 10. Driver roll 21 is carried on shaft 41. The shaft revolves on journal bearings 42 and 43. Sprocket 44 is fixedly attached to shaft 41. There is a similar arrangement for drive roll 31 including shaft 41a and sprocket 44a. The turning sprocket 45 is also located within the housing and revolves on a suitable shaft and bearing arrangement 46. A chain 48 is carried by the three sprockets. Sprocket 45 allows the single chain to drive rollers 21 and 31 in a direction such that belts 11 and 30 move in the desired direction. To accomplish this, the endless chain encloses sprockets 44 and 45the sprocket 44a is driven externally. It will be appreciated that any of a variety of connecting arrangements could be used to perform the function of the chain and sprocket arrangement. A brake assembly 50 is securely at I tached to back plate 101: of housing 40. The brake is independent of shaft 41 and is actuated magnetically. A variety of such brakes are available commercially, for example, Model RF 250 from Warner Electric Company. The clutch face of the brake 50a is operatively attached to a spline shaft 51. The spline shaft is fixedly attached to shaft 41 so that it revolves with the shaft. The spline engages the clutch face so that when the brake is magnetized, the brake face stops rotating. Since it is operatively attached to the spline shaft 51 which in turn is fixedly attached to shaft 41, shaft 41 will also stop. Shaft 41 is carried at its far end by bearing 52 which is carried in a portion of the frame. A gear 54a and one-way clutch 53 are located between the spline shaft and the bearing 52. The oneway clutch may be, for example, clutch bearing NO. RCB- 121616 which is commercially available from The'Torrington Company. A rack 54 engages gear 540. The rack moves up and down toward and away from a stop 55. At its upper end, the rack is attached to an air piston 57. Since the rack 54 engages the gear 54a when the rack is pushed downward by operation of the air cylinder 56, the shaft 41 rotates, thereby advancing the two belts, l 1 and 30. At the end of travel of the rack, arm 58 trips microswitch 59. The microswitch 59 is electrically connected to a control element which initiates the operation of the sewing machines, and when switch 59 is tripped by the descending rack, a sewing cycle is initiated. Switch 59 also engages brake 50 to which it is electrically connected. The piston 57 of the cylinder 56, when it reaches its bottommost point returns, pulling the rack back up with it. However, the gear 54a is carried in the one-way clutch 53 so that, although the gear moves, the shaft 41, locked by the brake, does not move. By use of the one-way clutch, the rack can be reset for the next indexing motion. Through suitable connections the piston 57 moves upon signal from a switch 83 which signals end of sew.

FIG. 3 shows the transfer plate, the gauging arrangement for insertion of the'workpiece and the integral stacking arrangement. The transfer plate'is designated generally as 61. The plate is actually the working surface for the operator and extends generally the width of the apparatus. Cutouts 62 and 63 are to accommodate the sewing machine throat plate. The transfer plate is attached to frame over braces 39 (see FIG. 1). Both of the belts shown in FIG. 1 travel together adjacent and in line with the top of the transfer plate. Gauges 64 and 65 are fastened to the top of the transfer plate. The gauges are securely brazed to the surface of the transfer plate. The plates are cut in the shapes shown from a piece of metal about 0.020 inches thick. Gauge 64 allows the operator to position the workpiece from front to back by virtue of surfaces 64a and from side to side byv virtue of surfaces 64b and 64c. The gauge 65 allows the operator to position the opposite end of the workpiece. The operator can properly place the material in the machine because the piece has a hem sewn onto it at the time. The operator lays the cloth behind the gauge and draws it forward and can feel when the edge of the hem hits surfaces 640 and 65a. The operators left hand is holding the end of the piece; and as the operator slides the piece toward surface 64b, she can tell when the hemmed edge hits the surface 64b.

Surfaces 64b and 64c are used interchangeably depending upon the distance required for the positioning of the top button from say the neck opening ofa shirt front.

The integral stacker 95 consists of tubing 66 which is located beneath the transfer plate top. The tubing hasan air inlet 67 which is supplied from a suitable source of compressed air. In the portion of the tubing which is located along the front edge of the transfer plate, a number of holes are drilled into the tubing. This is more clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in a typical construction, the tubing would be attached by means of braces 68. The transfer plate is shaped so as to form an apron 69. Holes may typically be drilled through the apron and through the tubing which lies adjacent the apron to allow passage of air in high pressure jets.

The stacker bay 70 is located in front of the apron 69 of the transfer plate. The stacker bar is' swingably mounted on support 71. A double-acting air cylinder 72 actuates the stacker bar back and forth. It can be seen that the air which exits through the holes in the tubing 66 blows the cloth, hanging over the apron of the transfer plate, over the stacker bar. The stacker bar then is urged away from the transfer plate by the cylinder 72 so that the cloth will fall naturally about the stacker bar and be pulled away from the transfer plate. The

stacker bar then returns to the position shown in the F IG:

The FIG. shows one way the belts could be located in relation to the transfer plate so there would be no interference the belt travel by plate. In FIG. 4 the belts 11 and 30 are located between the transfer plate 61 and frame 10.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the pneumatic cir cuitry. Air cylinders 28 are shown which raise and lower belt 11 for loading of the machine. The pneumatic system also serves to operate the rack 54, the stacker bar and air jets of the stacker and the tensioning roller 19 which maintains tension on belt 11.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the indexer control. V-l is the belt control, V-2 is the index control, V-3 is the stacker control and V4 is the air control. Numeral is a starting switch which is manually pushed by the operator. In operation, the start switch is depressed and energizes valve V-1 and relay 81. Valve V-1 controls the air cylinders 24 and 28 which gives the up and down motion to the top belt 11. When valve V-l is energized, the top belt is lowered. The top belt will remain down until the end of sew. The next thing that happens is the number one button sewer is energized. At about the same time, the number two button sewer will be energized. After both button sewers have completed their sewing cycle, switch 83 will signal end of sew, opening C and NC contacts and closing C and NO contacts. With the C and NO contacts closed, relay 84 and valve V 2 will be energized. The energizing of relay 84 and V-2 deenergizes the brake 50 and sends the index piston 57 to its fully extended position, and the rack contacts the switch 59. When valve V-2 is deenergized it returns the cylinder to its retracted position. Following index, the button sewers are again started and a second sewing operation is completed. Following a second index, microswitch 59b will signal that the working piece is now in the third button attaching position. A third button-attaching operation is completed and valve V-3 will be energized to bring the stacker into position against the transfer plate. When the stacker is all the way in, it will contact switch which will energize valve V-4 and blow air on the workpiece. The stacking can be accomplished now because the switch 59b and also switch 83 will be open and this will allow the belts to open, that is, the top belt to lift. When the stacker moves off into its normal position, that is, away from the machine the cycle is completed.

Looking now at thebelt system and what happens in a typical operation, the top belt 11 will initially be in an up position. The operator feeds the workpiece between the belts using the feeler gauges 64 and 65. The operator then pushes manual switch 80 lowering the top'belt 11. The first stitching operation is begun. At the end of this stitching operation, linkage 99 on the sewing head operates switch 83 to signal end of sew. At the end of sew, the air piston 57 extends and pushes the rack 54 down. This indexes the belts a given distance. The cylinder, when sewing, is started, retracts to its original position and the second sewing operation is begun. The same cycle is initiatedv for a second index and a third sewing cycle. Since the indexing must by be very definite, it can be seen that means must be provided to prevent the upper belt 11 from creating any change in the position of the workpiece, when it moves down. The invention utilizes a roller 19 attached to an air cylinder. This roller can be considered a dancing roller. The cylinder is so vented that the pressure inside the cylinder acting against the belt is always constant regardless of the position of the cylinder. Vent 93 allows this to be accomplished, acting as a relieving regulator. The belt selected is a prestressed belt such as model M3GG-r which can be bought from The Extremultus Company. As the rollers move down to lock the workpiece in position between the belts, belt 11 is locked by roller 21 and the only movement allowed is between the dancing roller and roller 20. This arrangement locks the belt and discourages any overall shifting of the belt. The slight shift of the belt due to the are through which the various rollers move in their downward travel is sufficiently shallow so that by the time the I belt 11 actually engages the workpiece, the downward motion a button clamp 100 and a button feeder apparatus 101 which includes a hopper 102 in which the buttons are stored before being fed to the clamp which holds the button in place beneath the sewing needle. Instead of a sewing head, the operation might involve, for example, cutting or printing.

The description has been with reference two sewing heads operating simultaneously, however, it will be appreciated that one, three or any number of sewing heads could be utilized advantageously depending on the particular operation.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific apparatus, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a wide variety of changes may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, certain features of the apparatus may be used independently of others and equivalents may be substituted for the various apparatus elements, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A work handling apparatus for button sewing machines and the like comprising in combination: a first belt means; a plurality of rollers supporting said first belt means; a second belt means located below said first belt means and running generally parallel to the first belt means for a distance; means for moving said belts against and away from each other, said moving means including means for raising and lowering at least some of said rollers supporting the first belt; means for maintaining tension on said first belt as the belts are separated by the raising of the supporting rollers; and means operatively attached to said belts for advancing both said belts simultaneously and intermittently in predetermined increments.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the belt-tensioning means includes means for gripping the first belt against advance and a dancing roller for maintaining an even tension on the belt when the first belt is raised, the dancing roller being located on the first belt between the gripping means and those of said some of the support rollers comprising said means for moving the first belt.

3. A work-handling apparatus for button-sewing machines and the like comprising in combination: a first endless belt; a second endless belt; said belts being adapted to move toward each other so as to engage a workpiece inserted between the belts; means operatively attached to said belts for advancing said belts simultaneously, and intermittently in predetermined increments, said advancing means including a first drive roller for said first belt, a rotatable shaft supporting said first roller, a gear fixedly attached to the shaft, and motivating means so constructed and arranged as to rotate the gear a predetermined amount.

4. A work-handling apparatus for button-sewing machines and the like comprising in combination: a first belt; a second belt, said belts being adapted to move toward each other so as to engage a workpiece inserted between the belts; means operatively attached to said belts for advancing said belts simultaneously, and in predetermined increments, said advancing means including a first drive roller for said first belt, a second drive roller for said second belt, a rotatable shaft supporting said first roller, means attached to said shaft and moving both of said rollers, one-way clutch means attached to said shaft, a gear carried by the clutch, motivating means so constructed and arranged as to rotate the gear a predetermined amount to drive said shaft and then to back up the gear, freewheeling, an equal amount, and brake means for locking the shaft against rotation as the gear rotates free of the shaft.

5. A work-handling apparatus for sewing machines and the like comprising in combination: a first belt; a second belt, said belts being adapted to move two toward each other so as to engage a workpiece inserted between the belts and the belts being separable to release the workpiece; a stacking device including a work transfer plate located in front of said belts to support the work and allowing some portion of the work to overhang the plate, a stacker bar, movable toward and away from the transfer plate; and air jets so constructed and arranged in relation to the plate and the bar as to blow the work out of engagement with e belts when the belts separate and over the stacker bar.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the work transfer plate includes an apron along at least the front edge of the transfer plate, the apron defining a plurality of holes, and wherein the air jets comprise tubing located behind the apron and defining holes along the length of the tubing, the holes coinciding with the holes in the apron, whereby air from a source of compressed air impinges on the portion of the work overhanging the plate, and the apparatus including means for initiating passage of air through said holes when the belts release the workpiece. 

